Appliance for use with saucepans and the like.



No. 819,940. PATENTED MAY 8, 1906.

A. J. SMITH. APPLIANCE FOR USE WITH SAUCEPANS AND THE LIKE.

APPLIOATION FILED JUNE 1.1905.

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ALBERT JOHN SMITH, OF EAST DULWICHQENGLAND.

APPLIANCE FOR USE WITH SAUCEPANS AND THE LIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Jr-atented May 8, 1906.

Application filed June 1,1905. Serial No. 263,900.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT JOHN SMITH, a subject of the King of Great Britain and Ireland, and a resident of 50 Crystal Palace Road, East Dulwich, county of Surrey, England, havev invented certain new and useful Improvements in Appliances for Use with Saucepans and the Like, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an appliance for use with saucepans and the like, and has for its object to enable any-sized saucepan or pudding-basin to be used for cooking puddings, porridge, fruit, and the like by means of steam; further, to dispense with the use of a cloth or cover to the basin when cooking and to facilitate the raising or lowering of said basin from or into said saucepan or the like, and, still further, to prevent the basin or the like from touching the bottom of the pan, so avoiding cracking or burning.

In order that my said invention may be readily understood, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying sheet of drawings, in which Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of my device as applied to a saucepan and lid. Fig. 2 is an under side plan view of the bridge of said device, and Fig. 3 a plan view of the expanding band and its attendant loops or links.

Like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views.

In carrying my said invention into effect I form an adjustable metal or wire bridge-piece of two members a a, Figs. 1 and 2, spanning the inner side of any-sized saucepan-lid b and from which an ordinary pudding-basin c is suspended by means of an expending metal band d,which encircles said basin and is connected with the bridge-piece a a, fixed in the lid 6 by means of hooks or links e and f. (See Fi 1.)

The sections or members a a forming the bridge-piece I form slightly-curved at their outer ends g, as in Fig. 2, and provide the same near said ends with loops h or their equivalents, from which the hooks or links 6, engaging the links or hooks f of the expanding band d, are suspended. These sections I bridge by a metal clip '11 and clamp said sections together therein by means of the screwnut j.

The clip I so arrange at its ends that each section can be drawn or slid apart with the curved ends g outward, as in Fig. 2. Thus when fixing said bridge-piece in position in the lid of the saucepan each section is eX- tended. in and from the clip in reverse directions until said curved ends come into contact with and rest on the beading of said lid. The clip is then looked in position, thereby firmly securing the bridge-sections in their relative positions.

The basin-suspending band (1, Figs. 1 and 3, I form from a strip of metal and curve the ends thereof upon each other until both ends meet and overlap, both ends being provided with collars 7r, through which the band when expanding or contracting slides. The hooks or loops f I may connect to the band by providing holes for said hooks or loops to engage in, or I may attach said hooks or loops to said band in any suitable manner.

In use the basin 0 is inserted in the band d, the same being of appropriate size to engage with (spring fit) the top of the basin and under the rim thereof. Then by means of the links or hooks f said basin is connected with the links or hooks e of" the bridge-piece a 0/,

already fixed in position in the lid 1) of the saucepan, and lowered into position in the saucepan, as shown in Fig. 1, in such a mannerthat is to say, according to the lengths of the links or hooks-that the basin does not touch the bottom of the saucepan m.

In a device constructed in accordance with my invention it is not necessary to employ a cloth over the top of said basin, and only a moderate amount of water, as indicated at n, is required, the cooking being effected by the steam given off, and, further, by the basin being thus suspended all likelihood of the contents or basin being damaged is obviated.

Having now described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

In a cooking utensil the combination with the lid thereof of a bridge-piece formed of two members slidable one with the other, means for locking said members one with ansuch as loops or hooks for readily suspending said band to bridge-piece or for disconnecting said band from bridge-piece substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ALBERT JOHN SMITH.

Witnesses GEORGE POTTER, THOMAS OHUBB.

other and to the lid, a spring-band and means 

